St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-14
Full Text of the Bill Intro
duced by Senator Cullom
Yesterday
Four Million Dollars Is Asked
for to Construct the
Lines.
A Bill Introduced to Amend
the Interstate Commerce
Act.
Senator Chandler Wants Con-
gressional Elections Reg
ulated.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The postal
telegraph bill introduced by Senator
Cullom to-day establishes the Limited
States postal telegraph as a part of
the postal system of the United States,
and for the purpose of inaugurating the
system, provides that the following tel
egraph trunk lines shall first be con-
structed: One from Washington, d. c.,
to Portland. Me-. via Baltimore, Will
mingtOn, Philadelphia, Camden, Tren-
ton, Newark, Jersey City, New York,
Brooklyn, New Haven, Hartford, PrOvi-
dence and Boston; one from Washing
ton to Minneapolis via PittSburg,
Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago, Milwaukee,
Madison. La Crosse and st. Paul; one
from New York city to Cleveland via
Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester,
Buffalo and Erie, Pa; one from Pitts
burg to Topeka. Kan, via. Columbus,
Cincinnati, indianapolis, st. Louis and
Kansas City and minor towns near the
large cities: one from Toledo to Detroit;
one from Washington to Galveston via
Richmond, Charlotte, Columbia, S. c.,
Augusta and Atlanta, Montgomery and
New Orleans; one from Chicago to New
Orleans via indianapolis, Louisville.
Nashvslle, Memphis and Vicksburg;
one from Chicago to st. Louis via Peo-
ria and Springfield; one from Chicago
to San Francisco via Des MOineS,
Omaha, Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Car
son City, any other towns ell route; and
one from Cheyenne to Denver.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH OFFICES
are to be opened at the places named
and at all intermediate points at which
first, second or third-class postOffices
are established. Branch lines, it pro-
vides, shall be constructed from time to
time as appropriations therefor are
made by congress, the intention being
to connect the lines with all cities
where the postal free delivery system
prevails, but no additional facilities
are to be provided in states already
connected with the trunk lines until
postal telegraph offices have been
The system is to be constructed in
straight lines, as near as practicable,
but regard is to be taken of cities that
will afford the best telegraphic facilities
to the public. The lines are to be con-
Structed by the engineer corps of the
army and transferred to the custody of
the postmaster general. The poles are
to be of iron, the wires of copper, and
all other materials of the best character.
Eight wires are to be strung on the line
from New York to Chicago and four
upon other lines. The secretary of war
is authorized to use the
MILITARY SERVICE LINES
of the United States as far as eXpedi-
ent, and also to make all necessary con-
formations of lands or buildings at a
fair compensation. All disputes as to
what is fair compensation are to be
Inv nf nt "A
secretary is further authorized to con-
struct, take and use all machinery and
devices, not including telegraph lines,
whether patented or not, as shall be
deemed necessary, the compensation to
be determined in the same manner as
condemnatiOnS of land. The sums of
money necessary for this purpose are
appropriated by the bill. A rate of 10
cents for each twenty words and cents
for each additional ten words, is fixed
for distances under 500 miles, and an
additional rate of ) cents for each $50
miles over 500. A night rate of 35 cents
and day rate of IS cents is fixed for
each 100 words transmitted for news
papers, except that where the same dis
patch is dropped off at more than one
Office the rates shall be % and 80 cents
respectively for each dropped copy.
The Office of director general of tele
graphs is created as part of the post
Office department. 1t is made the duty
of the postmaster general to report to
congress after the passage of the act, a
plan for the complete organization of
the postal telegraph system, with
detailed estimates of men and
money needed. Before the system is
put into operation and employees Sc
lected, examinations are to be held by
the civil service commission to deter
mine the 1 fines; OF applicants to -Four f
location and construction of the tee-
graph lines provided for by the act.